Guest Series: Stephen Joost

[Metro Jacksonville]

Guest Series: Stephen Joost



In a new series, Metro Jacksonville takes a step back to listen to, promote, and discuss the editorials, personal accounts, and vocal opinions of some of the key players in the preservation and progression of our community. This week, City Council President Stephen Joost.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-nov-guest-series-stephen-joost

[dougskiles]

Councilman Joost, thank you for sharing that with us today.  My wife and I had this very discussion last night.  I returned home from a meeting listening to residents across the street from a local riverfront park complain about how the fisherman have no respect for their private property and the public property.  I asked her 'what has a our society become where people act like animals?'. Her response was that most likely none of them have made any investment in this park financially.  They see it as an entitlement.

I too have long been a proponent of a system where everyone pays something if for no other reason than to create an understanding for the investment we all must make to live in this great country.

Another reason why I have more respect for our local politicians than those in Washington is that you live by the rules you make.  If you pass a new fee or tax, you get to share in the patriotism!  That we have allowed a system to continue where a ruling class gets to live above the standards they set for the rest of us, is nothing short of outrageous.

[Noone]

I support a flat tax and then everyone has skin in the game.

So how about skin in the game on the local level as it relates to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative. Todays Times Union front page headline on Thomas Creek 2011-692. Good deal? Bad deal?

Shipyards/Landmar the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier 2010-604. No skin in the game as it related to access from the Waterways.

McCoys Creek and the total wipeout at the street end of habitat at Stonewall and Chelsea. Check it out. Just happened. Who gets the design award for that?

A total takeover by an Independant Authority over Downtown and the access from the Waterways within the boundries. Skin in the game?

I appreciate councilman Joost sharing a concern on an issue. In 7 hours is the Board meeting of the St. Johns River Alliance in Paisley, Florida. Jacksonville has paid there $20,000 dues. Who is the Duval county representative? I've been asking councilman Redman for weeks as he is the Chair of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission. Is anyone going to the meeting? Skin in the game?

We also have a new commissioner of FIND. Aaron Bowman replacing Mike Messiano. It has been 3 years when I first addressed the commissioners of FIND about a sponsor for a Pocket Pier, floating dock at a waterfront public access street end. Still do not have a sponsor (city council member).  What a joke.

Skin in the game as it relates to a Public/Private Partnership. Just what does that mean?

[vicupstate]

As far back as I can remember, I have heard the saying "the only certainties in life are death and taxes'.  I guess the later is not true anymore. 

I mean we all know that low income folks are exempt from payroll (SS,Medicare) taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, alcohol and cigarette taxes, hospitality taxes, gas taxes, and all the various fees (including the three new ones in Jax) and fines that support the government.     

Just ONCE, I want to hear a Teapublican say it a damn shame that half the country earns so little that they have no INCOME taxes due.   What can we do to RAISE income levels so that they will then pay income taxes. 

That can start by rebuilding our manufacturing sector, and cease with the notion that only with a four year degree will someone earn a decent living in this country.       

[dougskiles]

Just ONCE, I want to hear a Teapublican say it a damn shame that half the country earns so little that they have no INCOME taxes due.   What can we do to RAISE income levels so that they will then pay income taxes. 

My opinion that everyone should contribute does not come from the thought that the small amount they pay will make any difference in government finances.  It has to do with the sense of investment that would hopefully arise within those individuals.  If they make $1, they should have to fork over a few pennies.

When people get things for free, they tend to put lower value on those things and treat them with less (or no) respect.  Our city parks are a perfect example.

Just like the councilman explained, I don't see this as a republican vs democrat issue.  It is about raising the sense of pride in our country.

[vicupstate]

Is one's pride in their country is proportional to the amount of taxes they pay or the type of taxes they pay?

No one is living and breathing, and NOT paying taxes. They ARE already paying!

If I died right now, my estate wouldn't owe any taxes, does that mean I don't have any 'skin' in the game? 

The lower 50% are not paying any income taxes because they have become progressively poorer for the last 30 years.  If  we can reverse that trend, the income tax issue will take care of itself. 

[JeffreyS]

+1 Vic
I do agree individual investment breeds individual pride.  That however won't trump the fact that for thirty years the common man has seen that in the name of good business ninety percent of government decisions have favored the well to do or corporate interests over middle and lower class.

[TheCat]

Is having "skin" in the game the difference between a clean park and a dirty one? Am I to believe that if some people pay more taxes they will suddenly feel emboldened and empowered to take care of their country/state/city? The real issue is the lack of power many people feel, poor or not. I don't think taxes are the way to a path of empowerment. I rarely walk through a park and think "this is my park.' Most governments make it clear that community property is not really community property but, instead, it belongs to the government(s). Since, I do feel a general disconnect  from my governing authorities and I don't have the emotional resonance to understand that my taxes make America. I feel like many people, that my taxes are mismanaged and anything positive that comes from taxes is simply a miracle.

.

[JeffreyS]

One question this article brings to my mind is about the Mobility Fee Moritorium.  Should everyone have skin in the game unless they are an insider GOB developer?

[bill]

+1 Vic
I do agree individual investment breeds individual pride.  That however won't trump the fact that for thirty years the common man has seen that in the name of good business ninety percent of government decisions have favored the well to do or corporate interests AND UNIONS over middle and lower class.

[dougskiles]

The real issue is the lack of power many people feel, poor or not. I don't think taxes are the way to a path of empowerment. I rarely walk through a park and think "this is my park.' Most governments make it clear that community property is not really community property but, instead, it belongs to the government(s). Since, I do feel a general disconnect  from my governing authorities and I don't have the emotional resonance to understand that my taxes make America. I feel like many people, that my taxes are mismanaged and anything positive that comes from taxes is simply a miracle.

I understand why you feel that way - and believe it is a widespread opinion in our society.  I also believe that it will lead to nothing but more of the same.  The only way things change is when people take constructive action.

A friend on this forum recently recommended a book to me: America, The Owner's Manual: Making Government Work For You by Senator Bob Graham and Chris Hand (yes - the same one who is Mayor Brown's Chief of Staff).  I started reading it and have found it to be very informative.  It is filled with examples of how people have organized to make change in government policy, and provides clear steps of how to do it.

For anyone who is serious about seeing things change, and are willing to work hard to make it happen, I highly recommend this book.

[TheCat]

Isn't that part of the problem? In order to make a change you have to create a niche movement.

[tufsu1]

+1 Vic
I do agree individual investment breeds individual pride.  That however won't trump the fact that for thirty years the common man has seen that in the name of good business ninety percent of government decisions have favored the well to do or corporate interests AND UNIONS over middle and lower class.

sorryn bill....but most folks in unions are the middle class

[CityLife]

Nicely written and well thought out piece by Mr. Joost. However I'd like to hear the President of the Jacksonville City Council discuss Jacksonville centric issues. I'd rather our City Council leader discuss ways to solve our local tax issues, before he jumps to solving the national tax system. Or maybe he's not the only one in town with eyes on DC?

[bill]

+1 Vic
I do agree individual investment breeds individual pride.  That however won't trump the fact that for thirty years the common man has seen that in the name of good business ninety percent of government decisions have favored the well to do or corporate interests AND UNIONS over middle and lower class.

sorryn bill....but most folks in unions are the middle class

Sorry, if you are going to try to get people to buy into the big companies(including unions) that use their influence and money to sway policies, you cannot pick and choose who gets to do that. While many union members may be in the middle class the union leaders are certainly not. The bailout(s) went to financial institutions and unions. You cannot differentiate because one gives to one party and one gives to the other.